Comments Off on Air pollution is the leading environmental cause of death worldwide

A new report shows that air pollution is the leading environmental cause of death in the world – and the number five cause of death overall. China and India lead the way with a combined 2.2 pollution-related deaths in 2015. These rising trends continue to put pressure on governments and industries that could make a difference. The State of Global Air 2017 report revealed how long-term exposure to harmful, small particulate matter in the air contributed to over 4 million premature deaths in 2015 – the equivalent of 103 million years of healthy life. The study, a combined effort by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and Institute for Health Metrics and Evalution’s Global Burden of Disease Project , showed China and India as the nations suffering from the most health effects and early deaths due to air pollution. CNBC notes that UK air pollution deaths are also on the rise at 40,000 per year. Related: Beijing creates new environmental police force to crack down on smog “We are seeing increasing air pollution problems worldwide,” HEI President Dan Greenbaum said in a statement. “The trends we report show that we have seen progress in some parts of the world – but serious challenges remain.” Sadly, particulate matter tends to affect the very old and the very young, leaving the most vulnerable populations at a higher risk. Via CNBC Images via Flickr ( 1 , 2 )

Comments Off on Two new lawsuits claim Monsanto herbicide caused cancer

Monsanto is a bad word around these parts. As much as we’d like to forget the seed-mongering, pesticide-spreading, GMO-pushing company exists at all, we can’t. That’s because Monsanto’s devastating impact on the Earth and its people continues to ripple outward at an alarming rate. Now, two brave individuals are taking the giant company to court. In separate lawsuits, a U.S. farm worker and a horticultural assistant are claiming exposure to Monsanto’s herbicides caused their cancers . What’s worse, the lawsuits allege that Monsanto knowingly misled the public about the dangers of the herbicide, and even influenced regulatory agencies to change official positions based on misinformation. Read the rest of Two new lawsuits claim Monsanto herbicide caused cancer

Comments Off on INFOGRAPHIC: The dangers of indoor pollution and how to deal with it

In 2012, household air pollution made up 7.7% of all global mortalities and indoor pollution causes all kinds of health issues, from headaches and trouble concentrating to allergies and lung problems. Given that we spend 90% of our lives indoors, it’s important that the air we breathe indoors be safe and clean, but that can be a challenge since indoor air is 2 – 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. This infographic gives you all the details on the dangers of indoor air pollution and a few tips for making the air in your home the best it can be. Read the rest of INFOGRAPHIC: The dangers of indoor pollution and how to deal with it Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags:

Comments Off on Spring’s baby animals are easy prey for outdoor pets—help keep them safe!

All around the world, songbirds are disappearing at an alarming rate. Although many of them perish due to habitat loss and poisoning by agricultural pesticides, a startling number of them are killed by domestic cats. In the USA alone, it’s estimated that somewhere around 3 billion birds and close to 7 billion small mammals are killed by cats, including house pets that are allowed to venture outdoors, and feral animals. Spring is the most vulnerable time for baby birds , rabbits, and other wee ones, and we can all do our part to help them survive. Read on to learn how. Read the rest of Spring’s baby animals are easy prey for outdoor pets—help keep them safe! Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: